Machine for cutting and delivering ice cream and like plastic materials



March 26, 1929. J; E. MALONE 1,706,534

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND DELIVERING ICE CREAM AND LIKE PLASTIC MATERIALSJaim E Malone jim/wg;

MarCh 26, 1929. 1 E, MALQNE MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND DELIVE CREAM ANDLIKE PLASTIC MATERIALS Filed Jan. 22, 1926 Lo/m E.' Mahn@ hvj/nf;

March 26, 1929- J. E. MALoNE MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND DELIVER CREAM' ANDLIKE PLASTIC MATERIALS Filed Jan. 22, 192s March 26, 1929. J, E, MALQNE1,706,534

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND DELIVERING ICE CREAM AND LIKE PLASTIC MATERIALSFiled Jan. 22, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Knife/@bf mwcy Jahn E. Mane March26, 1929. -1 E, MALQNE MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND DELIvERlNG-'ICE CREAM ANDLIKE PLASTIC MATERIALS Filed Jan. 22, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 26,1929. J, E MALONE 1,706,534

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND DELIVERING ICE CREAM AND LIKE PLASTIC MATERIALSFiled Jan. 22, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet '6 i John E Malone JOHN- EIIALONE, OFOAK MACHINE IOR CUTTING .AND

PAiTrENT OFFICE.

PABX, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MOJONNIER BROS. CO., A.

CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DELIVERING ICE CREAM ANI) LIKE PLASTIC' HATERIALS.1

Application med January 22, 1926. Serial No. 82,925.,-

M invention relates to a machine for han ling ice cream and like plasticmaterials; and the main object is to provide such a machine havingadjustable means .for

taking a predetermined quant-ity or portlon from a mass of material andfeeding or depositing it at a delivery point as, forl errample, into acarton; and another object 1s to provide operating means for actuatingvarious parts of the machine so as 4to move said arts in proper sequenceto separate and eed the material as required. I also show carton closingmeans but do not claim the same herein.

Other objects and advantageous ends accomplished with this inventionwill become apparent from the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, andin which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machlne embodyin a certain form of myinvention;

Fig. 2 1s an enlar ed vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, s owingmeans for closing the carton cover;

Fig. 3 4is a perspective view of the carton;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-section on line '4--4l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 isan enlarged partial elevational view, taken from the oppositeside of Fig. 1,

showing in full lines the carton closing mechanism at the beginning ofthe closing operation;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial vertical section on line 6--6 of Fig. 1,showing the carton closing mechanism in an intermediate position;

Fig. 7 chine;

Fig. 8 shows a development of the drum with the slots for actuating thearms which operate the knives or portion separating means and also thepusher blade or discharging means.;

Fig. 9 is a partial plan, showing the knives separated; y

Fig. 10 is a partial plan of the mechanism for feeding the material intothe carton, and shows the knives close together;

Fig. A11 is an enlarged vertical section through the drum and feedingmechanism on line 11-11 of Fig. 7; and p Fig. 12 is a vertical sectionon line 12-12 is a partial plan view of 'the ma- I\fFig. 11, showingthemechanism for sepdischarging or feeding said portion o material intoa carton, means for closing the covering elements of said carton, suchas the end flaps and main top; and power transmission means or operatingmechanism for automatically driving and operating all of said means inproper sequence and order, s'o as to separate the predetermined portionfrom the mass and to feed it into the carton, a-nd thereupon carry saidcarton forward to the closing means, after adding a spoon to saidportion in the carton, then close the covering elements of the carton,and thereafter discharge said carton from the ma# chine.

The means for conveying and intermittently moving the carton and placingeach carton in succession in line with the material separating andfeeding means, comprises a horizontal frame 15 mounted transversely jacross one end of the housing 16 which is supported on legs 17 braced bymeans of cross bars 18. The frame 15 includes track 9oV members 15and15" which are provided with downwardly curved ends 19 at one end landwith downwardly curved ends 2O at the other end. A sprocket 21 isrotatably mounted by means of a shaft 22 in said curved ends 19, and asprocket 23 is mounted to rotate with a shaft 24 in bearing blocks 25adjustably positioned in slots 26 provided in the curved ends 20, saidblocks being adjusted by means of screws 27 to provide the proper 10otension in the carton conveying chain 28 which travels on said sprockets19 and 20 and on track members 15 and 15". Said chain 28 is providedwith cross members or spacing blocks 29 placed at cert-ainlpredetermined distances apart on the chain, so as to carry a carton 30in each s ace between each two adjacent blocks, as s own in the .idrawings. The cartons 30 are thus conveyed v step by step over the frameand through the machine.

The means for containing 'the mass o rr quantity of material comprises acasing or container 31 which is preferably made ofl l such a size andshape as to best suit the material which is to be contained thereinl andconveyed therefrom into the carton, and this casing is mounted onhousing 16, (s ee Fig. 4) as with brackets 32 with suitable fasteningmeans, and if desired may be arranged so that the casing may be replacedby one of a different size or shape to suit the` particular material orthe particular cartons to be filled. The particular casing 31 shown inthe drawings is shaped and adapted for supporting blocks or bricks ofice cream or the like at one end thereof, and said blocks are preferablyarranged in upright position in said end, while a side opening 3l isprovided on said end for viewing the blocks of material. A part 33 ofthe casing is arranged for containing ice to cool said blocks of icecream, and has a sloping ,bottom v33 and a drain opening or port 34 atthe lower end. Said blockholding end is open at the bottom, (see Fig.12) to admit or feed the block of materlal to the cutting or separatingmechanism to separate a certain portion from the lower end of the block.VA suitable cover 35 is preferably also provided for the top,

of said casing or container.

The means for separating or cutting a predetermined ortion of material-from the mass of material in the casing, as for instance, a portionfrom a block of ice cream which is located in the end part of thecasing, and the means for supportingand conveying said portion ofmaterial, comprises a pair of companion knives, one broad knife 36 andanother narrow knife 37 (see Figs. 9-12), the broad knife being movablysupported by brackets 38 and 39 which slide respectively on the guiderods 40 and 41 secured in housing 16, and the narrow knife beingsupported by brackets 42 and 43 which likewise slide on said rods 40 and41, the brackets 38 and 42 each having two hands embracing guide rod 40as shown in the drawings. The brackets 38 and 42 are each providedrespectively, with a depending arm 38- and 42', which, respectively,carry a roller 38 and 42 thereon. 'These roll- .ers travel closelytogether. along a straight ing 16, thereby keeping .the knives 36 and 37in close contact or in closed position, during the larger part of therotation of said drum; but two diverging slots orv branches 44, whichare arranged substan-v tially in diamond shape, are provided within thestraight groove or slot 44', and when said rollers travel within saiddiamond shaped slot, the knives are separated to per-r mit the downwardmovement of the material, like the block of ice cream as shown in thedrawings, so that a portion thereof may be cut off or separated b thefollowing closing movement of the nives as the rollers again move fromthe branches 44 into the straight slot 44.

The means for conveying the' portion of material -from the casing orcontainer 31 and. placing it into the carton comprises a supportingplate or platform 46 resting on vertical shafts 47 which are supportedon a cross beam 48 provided with a side stem 49 which travels in aninclined track means 50 during the movement of the platform from thecontainer 31 to the carton 30. Said track means is fulcrumed at itslower end on the housing 16 with a screw 51 or the like, which `isselectively placed or fasa clamping jaw 52 ysee Figs. 4 and 11) 'A withaset screw 53 thereon for clamping the edge of the housing wall in theside opening 54, and said jaw is movable along and gaged by a series ofindex numbers 55, whereby the elevation of the platform during itsreceiving position, and consequently the thickness of the slice orportion of material, is controlled and regulated, said slice or ortionbeing thereafter cut from the blocz by the knives 36 and 37 and thenconveyed to the carton.

Means for moving the platform longitudinally between the casing andcarton comprises a vertical rectangular frame 56 having projecting ears57 and 58 in which the shafts 47 slide vertically and whereby saidshafts and platform are moved horizontally. On the top of said frame ismounted a U- shaped member '59 which surrounds the receiving partofplatform 46, and surrounds and guards theA portion of material on saidplatform which has been cut from thel mass of material. Said frame 56 issupported and slidable on horizontal guide rods 60 and 60', mounted inhousing 16, and an arm 61 on said frame carries a roller 62 which movesin a curved slot 63 provided in the periphery of rotating drum 44,therebymoving frame 56 and platform 46 to and fro between the casing andcarton.

The means ,for feeding `or pushing the por- 'l the shaft 66 and thepusher member 64 includes a lever 69 attached at its upper end to shaft66 and fulcrumed with a pivot 70 on housing 16 (see Fig. 4). A roller 71on a cam arm 72 secured on a shaft 73 engages an intermediate cam finger74 on said lever to move shaft 66 rearward, and said roller 71 engages alower'cam finger 75 on said` lever to move shaft 66- forward. A bevelgear 76 on Ithe main drive shaft 45 meshes with bevelgear 78 on shaft 73to rotate the latter and actuate cam arm 72. A lever arm 79A is fastenedon and extends transversely from shaft 66 (see Fig. 11) and has adepending inger 80 which normally slides along the side of bracket 68but which drops in a notch 81 in said bracket 68 to swing arm 79 andshaft 66 and thereby raise pusher blade 65, as indicated in Figs. 5 and10, for a suflicient length' of time to permit the portion of materialwith the platform to pass underneath the knife as they travel from thecasingto the carton. A curved lever rod 82 see Figs. 7 and 11) vis swungon its fulcruni 83 provided on the side of housing 16 when the inner end84 is struck and moved downward by a lug 85 on drum 44, and the upperend 86 of said rod 82 thereupon engages and raises lever arm 79 to moveits finger 80 out of notch 81 and to move pusher blade 65 downward intoposition for pushing the portion p from the platform into the carton.After the portion of material has been Vpushed from the platform 46 intothe carton spoon through said slot 89 so that it will drop onto theportion of material p in the open carton. Said plate 90 is reciprocatedby a lever 92 fulcrumed on a post 93 mounted in housing 16, and saidlever is actuated by a cam plate 94 engaging a roller 95 at the lowerend of said lever 92, said cam plate is mounted on a shaft 96 which isjournaled in housing 16 and carries a gear 97.driven housingr by a `gear98 secured to the main shaft 45,

said fgcars being preferably '45 gears, as 'y shown in Fig. 4.

l .A guard plate 100 is provided and is ar-f ranged on track frame 15,as with elements 101 adjacent spoon box bracket 88, and lhas carton.

The means for operating the conveyer chain 28 and therewith the cartonsin'a step by step movement comprises a crank arm 104 secured ,on driveshaft 45 and having a link 105 ivoted thereto and to a lever 106 whichis fu crumed on shaft 22 and carries a pawl 107 urged by a spring 108into engagement with the teeth of a small sprocket 109 secured on shaft22, thus intermittently operating shaft 22 and the large sprocket 21with chain 28v to move the carton step by step over the machine.

The means or mechanism for closing the Ycarton comprises separate meansfor fold# ing down the rear end flap 110, and for folding down the frontend flap 111, also means for creasing or bending over the end lip orflange 30 on the main flap 30', and means for folding down said vmainflap over the end flaps and then tucking in said folded end lip into thecarton.

The means for folding down the rear end flap 110 comprises an operatingarm 112 provided with fingers 113 and mounted on a crank 114 whichrotates with a horizontal shaft 115 journaled in the yoke arms 116 of abracket 117 extending laterally from housing 16 (see Fig. 7). A gear 118on horizontal shaft 115 drives a gear 119 on a vertical shaft 120 whichis journaled and supported in the bracket 117. The lower end of saidshaft 120 extends through a yoke 121 and carries a gear 122 driven by agear 123 secured to a shaft 124 which is mounted in the arms of saidyoke 121 and in a supporting bracket 125 which extends from housing 16.A gear 126 on the end of shaft 124 is drivenby a gear 127 mounted onshaft 96 journaled in housing 16.

The means for folding down the front end flap 111 of the cartoncomprises a swingable plate or hand 128 secured on a rod 129 journaledin the ear or curled end 130 on a bracket plate 131 which is mounted onframe 15, and said rod 129 is actuated by a crank arm 132 connected bymeans of a curved link 133 to a crank 134 secured to shaft 124 (see Fig.6).

The means for bending over the end lip 30 on the main flap 30 of thecarton comprises a swingable jaw plate 13,5 pivoted on legs 137. An arm139 is secured to plate 135 and is actuated by a link 140 connected tosaid arm and to a horizontal shaft 141 extending through the end of alever 142 which is fulcrumed onA asupporting post 143 extendinglaterally from housin 16. The free, end of lever 142 is actuatedgb a pin144 extending from the face of a iscv 145 fastened onthe outer end ofrotating shaft96, outward of ear 127 see Fig. r5 The rotation of shaft96and isc 145 wi thus intermittently actuate lever 142 by pin 144 andthereby swing arm 139 and plate 135 inorder to crease or bend lip 30 onflap 30.

The means for folding down flap 30 comprises a swingable plate 146pivoted on aj- "bracket member 147 adjustably mounted' ongl frame bymeans of screws 148 engagin ip slots in said member 147. A lever 150 iscrumed on an arm 151 extending from bracket 147 ,and is actuated by acrank arm 152 fas-v tened on horizontal shaft 141. The free end of lever150 engages. plate 146 to press it downward (see Fig. 2) in order toclose the top Hap of the carton and to tuck in the end lip 30, inward ofthe .front wall of said carton. As the free vend of the lever movesupward it engages a pin `1-53-in ears 154 extending from plate 146, andthereby lifts said plate vertically upward by the. up-

ward movement of the free end of said lever,

as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The means for driving the mechanism of the machine comprises apulley-155 rotatably mounted lon drive shaftand provided with a clutchportion 155 engagable by a clutch member 156 which is slidably mountedon said shaft 45 and keyed thereon to rotate therewith. This slidableclutch member is operated by a" lever l157 fulcrumed on a bracket 158extending from housing 16. A belt 159 travels over pulley 155 and over apulley 160 secured to shaft' 161 mounted in frame legs 17 and in bracketmembers 162 extending from cross bars 18.

lA gear 163 is secured to said shaft and is' driven by a wormv 164 on' ashaft k165 journaledf in bearings 166 and driven by a pulley 167actuated by a belt or cable 168 driven by a pulley 169 attached to theshaft 170 of a driving motor 171 which is mounted by means of brackets172 on cross bars18.

What I claim as my invention and deslre to secure by Letters Patent is:

l 1. A machine comprising means for containing a mass of material,knives on `which said mass rests when in closed position, la

. supporting member beneathsaid knives on which said mass moves whensaid knives are separated, arms on said supporting member i and saidknives and a drum with slots for receiving and actuatingsaid arms tooperate said knives and supporting member-for cut-ting a portion from,said mass and moving member.

ing said portion by means of said support- 2." A machine comprisingmeans for containing a mass of material, cutting members normallyresting beneath said mass, a supportin member located beneath saidcuttinv members from the lpath of said mass -to et 'it move onto saidsupporting mem` v ber, and thereafter to move said cutting' members' tocut the supported portionfrom said mass, means for moving saidsupporting member with thesupported portion lata erally away from saidcutting members and mass, and means formoving said supporting memberwith the supported :portion downward during' said lateral movement. 3.'A machine comprising means for con- *taining a mass of material,cutting members placeable beneath said mass, a supporting member movablebeneath said cutting members for supporting the mass when the cuttingmembers are "separated, arms on said cutting members and supportingmember, a 'slotted drum for movingy said arms to actuate said cuttingmembers and cut a portion from said mass of material and to move saidsupporting member with said portion, and

-means dependent upon the movement of said taining a mass' ofimateriameansv for cutting a portion from said mass, means for supportmg andconveying said portion toa 'I delivery point, a pusher blade, areciprocating and rotating shaft with operating means for swinging andreciprocating said blade to discharge said portion from Y saidsupporting means, and lever means forv reciprocating and forl rotatingsaid shaft.

6. A machine comprising means for holding a mass of material, means forAsupporting the lowerl end of said mass, means for cuttin on saisupporting means, means for operat- -ing said supporting means, a pushermember and means for swinging and reciprocating it to move said portionfrom said supportingmeans, and rotating means for actuating said cuttingmeans, said supporting incans, and said pusher member in proper order.7. A machine comprising means for hold.

a part from said mass' which rests 70 tingmem ers, means for moving saidcuting a mass of material, means for supporting the lower end 0f saidmass, means for cutting a part from said mass which rests onsaidsupporting means, a pusher member and means for swinging andreciprocating it to move said part ci? material from said supportingmeans at a delivery point, arms on said cutting means and on saidsupporting means and on said swinging means, and a drum with means foroperatln said arm and connected means in proper order by the rotation ofsaid drum.

8. A machine comprising means for containing a mass of material, meansfor separating a portion from said mass, means for. conveying` saidportion from said contain-- ing means, a member for pushing said portionfrom said conveying means, ashaft mounted on said machine to swing andto reciprocate said member, an arm on said shaft movable to swingsaid'member upward so that said portion m-ay pass thereunder, and levermeans to raise said arm and swing said member down onto said con-;feying means for moving said portion theref rom.

9. A machine comprising means for conv taining a mass of material',means for separating a portion from said mass, means for conveying saidportion from'said containing means, a member for pushing said portionfrom said conveying means, a shaft for swinging and reciprocating saidmember, and a lever and cam means to reciprocate said shaft and saidpushing member.

10. A machine comprising means for containing material, means forseparating a portion from said material, means for conveying saidportion from said containing means, means for pushing said portion fromsaid conveying means, a gravity actuatedv arm fo'r swinging the lastsaid means, a lever for swinging said arm, and a rotating member foractuatin said lever.

11. A machine comprislng means for containing material, means forseparating a, portion from said material, means for conveying saidportion from said containing means, a member for pushingsaid portionfrom said conveying means, reciprocating and swinging means foractuating said pushing member, an arm and a lever for swinging the lastsaid means, arms on said conveying means and on said separating means,and a drum with a lug and with slotted means for operating said leverand said arms by rotation of said drum.

12. A machine comprising a housing and means thereon for containing amass of material, means for cutting the lower portion from said mass,means for supporting and conveying said portion, the last said meansincluding a platform movable beneath said mass and cutting means, aframe reciprocating with said platform lon said housing, shafts withconnecting means slidable in said frame, track means along which saidconnecting means travel during reciprocation of said frame, and meansfor adjusting said track means to determine the thickness of saidportion.

13. A machine comprising a housing and means thereon for containing amass of material, means for cutting the lower portion from said mass,means for supporting and conveying said portion, the last said meansincluding a platform on which said portion rests and being movable awayfrom said cutting means and said mass, a frame reciprocating withsaid'platform on track means on said housing, shafts attached to saidplatform and slidable in said frame but reciprocating therewith, andmeans for operating said shaft and said frame to lower and to'move saidplatform away from said containing means. f

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN E. MALONE.

